Glendronach Introduces New 30- And 40-Year-Old Single Malt Whiskies

The Glendronach 30-Year-Old is priced at $1,300 and has an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 46.8 percent. Glendronach 40-Year-Old 2025, bottled at 43.9 percent ABV, is priced at $6,700.

A highly esteemed whisky from the Scottish Highlands is launching two exceptional new expressions this month. Glendronach distillery will introduce Glendronach 30-Year-Old and Glendronach 40-Year-Old globally, with a limited allocation of this unique whisky available in the U.S. market. If you are unfamiliar with the term Glendronach, it is probably a result of gatekeeping. Glendronach is a distinguished Highland whisky, characterized by its thick, rich single malt and pronounced sherry profile. Glendronach is arguably the quintessential example of sherry bombs—whiskeys replete with the rich, sumptuous fruit and pastry notes characteristic of Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry finishes.

Glendronach 30-Year-Old, known as “A Symphony of Sherry Casks,” is a composite of many sherry styles. This bottle will use Amontillado in the blend for the first time in Glendronach's history, alongside the renowned Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez casks. It is a variety of sherry characterized by its nutty and tobacco undertones. According to expert blender Rachel Barrie's tasting comments, these may be among the finest bottles from Glendronach in recent years. A 30-Year-Old exhibits a “dark cherry walnut” hue, accompanied by an opulent bouquet of cherries, raisins, dates, Brazil nut toffee, and caramel. It is characterized on the taste as "seductively smooth," featuring notes of glazed cherry, cinnamon raisin, toffee, and chocolate hazelnut café crème.

The Glendronach 40-Year-Old, referred to as “The Pinnacle of Artistry,” represents a new milestone in the distillery's expertise in blending PX and Oloroso sherries. Glendronach's notes characterize the 40-Year-Old as possessing a deep, black hue and a soft, velvety mouthfeel. The hue is characterized as dark ochre, with first smells of black cherry, blackberry, stewed plum, and sherry-infused chocolate cake. The taste reveals notes of blackberry, bramble compote, prune, raisin, and Mexican hot chocolate, reflecting the aforementioned aromas.

Glendronach is undertaking initiatives in anticipation of a significant anniversary. The distillery, celebrating its 200th anniversary next year, revitalized its whole line last year with new branding. In recent years, Glendronach has introduced new collections and refined some of its old blends under Barrie's oversight. Acquiring this latest beverage will undoubtedly provide a struggle due to the restricted production quantities; only 1,300 bottles of the 30-Year are available for the U.S. market, while merely 70 bottles of the 40-Year exist.

The Glendronach 30-Year-Old is priced at $1,300 and has an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 46.8 percent. Glendronach 40-Year-Old 2025, with an alcohol by volume of 43.9 percent, will be priced at $6,700. The bottles are available as of today, September 9th, however actual availability may differ by market. Similarly, prices are expected to increase due to the substantial number of Glendronach enthusiasts.

If you are not considering either of these bottles, I strongly recommend a more economical option from their collection, the Glendronach 18, priced at approximately $250. A pour of that liquid will elucidate why these two bottles will be exceedingly difficult to locate.